FIFTH GRADE CURRICULUM
Religion (200 Minimum Weekly Minutes)
Sacraments
- Defines sacrament as an outward sign of God’s love for us
- Identifies the seven sacraments of the Catholic Faith broken down into sacraments of initiation, healing, and commitment
- Celebrates the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and Reconciliation
- Understands sacraments as celebrations of life
- Sees Jesus as the sacrament of God’s presence
- Recognizes the Catholic Church as the Sacrament of Jesus’ presence in the world
Scripture
- Studies and prays psalms
- Reads various New Testament sources
- Enhances masses by participating and preparing Liturgy/Prayer
- Participates in morning offering and petitions, noon prayers, and afternoon prayers
- Employs various prayer forms, including the traditional prayer
- Performs the Rosary and attends Stations of the Cross
- Attends weekly Mass
Social Justice
- Participates in volunteer activities which aid those in need, the poor, and the elderly
- Assists primary children during weekly Masses
Language Arts (625 Minimum Weekly Minutes)
Reading
- Builds vocabulary through understanding of word structure, use of synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms, as well as the use of the dictionary and thesaurus
- Increases comprehension through prediction, inference, comparison, and the drawing of conclusions
- Understands cause and effect
- Differentiates between fact and opinion
- Identifies story elements as wells as author’s point of view
- Employs various reference tools to effectively find information within books, journals, newspapers, and libraries, as wells as accessing online information
- Reading point goals set every quarter through use of Accelerated Reader and Scholastic Reading Counts
Writing
- Utilizes writing process strategies: pre-writing, rough draft, proof reading, revising, and final copy
- Constructs effective writings of varying length to include single and multiple paragraph works
- Develops writings of different genres to include: comparative, explanatory, expository, personal narrative, persuasive, and story writing
- Produces a research paper using multiple sources, including the correct citing of sources
- Writes using captivating wording, correct grammar, and mechanics
Listening and Speaking
- Processes oral information in order to formulate thought- provoking questions to enhance learning
- Edifies through engaging and informational oral presentations
- Engages in constructive dialogue
- Clarifies views with supportive examples
Mathematics (250 Minimum Weekly Minutes)
Number Sense
- Works comfortable with very large (millions) and very small (thousandths) numbers
- Utilizes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with multi-digit whole numbers and decimals
- Understands number line placement of integers, decimals, fractions, and mixed numbers
- Identifies least common multiple and greatest common factor of number pairs
- Equates proper, improper, and mixed fractions
- Uses rounding and compatible numbers to estimate
- Adds and subtracts negative numbers
Algebra and Functions
- Constructs and solves simple algebraic expressions with one variable
- Places ordered pairs in the four quadrants of the coordinate plane
- Graphs simple algebraic expressions
- Maps and extends geometric and numeric patterns
Measurement and Geometry
- Chooses appropriate unit of measure for weight, length, volume, and temperature
- Employs correct terminology with regard to line, angle, circle, and three-dimensional rectangular prisms
- Calculates perimeter and area of a variety of polygons and circles
- Finds the surface area and volume of rectangular prisms
- Explores tessellation, translation, reflection, and figure rotation
Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability
- Calculates mean, mode, and median of a given set of numbers
- Employs appropriate types of graphs to most effectively display data
- Utilizes graphs to predict trends
Mathematical Reasoning
- Deciphers information in word problems to determine means to arrive at its successful solution
- Utilizes various strategies to problem solve
- Makes precise calculations and verifies to assure validity
Science (175 Minimum Weekly Minutes)
Physical Science
- Sequences the complexity of atoms, elements, and compounds, and understands how the inter-relate to make all types of matter
- Observes various properties of matter and how it may change states
- Classifies various forms of energy and their transfer
Earth Science
- Diagrams the following cycles: water, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide/oxygen
- Assess the Earth’s weather through the analysis of the moment of air masses
- Compares Earth with its moon, the sun, and the planets in our solar system
Life Science
- Classifies living things
- Understands the development of body systems from single cells
- Investigates plant adaptations and processes
Investigation and Experimentation - Asks meaningful questions and participates in investigations to develop further understanding of concepts
Social Studies (175 Minimum Weekly Minutes)
History
- Traces earliest migration of prehistoric tribes into North America and their adaptations to the environment
- Identifies various explorers and their accomplishments
- Studies: colonization, independence, government formation, western frontier expansion, and the division of the union
Geography - Distinguishes various geographic regions within the United states and understands the relationship between human survival and the land
- Locates the 50 states and identifies their capitals
Economics
- Recognizes the significance of trade between Europe and the Americas
- Studies the economies of the early colonies
- Analyzes the British debt after the French and Indian War
- Understands the importance of a dependable monetary system in the young United States
Culture
- Sees the USA as a pluralistic society
- Role-plays life as an explorer
- Role-plays life at the dawn of the Revolutionary War
Ethics and Beliefs
- Distinguishes between Puritan, Quaker, and Native American belief systems
- Contrasts the arguments for and against slavery in the United States
Social and Political Systems
- Compares Native American and Colonial American cultures
- Juxtaposes matriarchal and democratic forms of government
Computer (45 Minimum Weekly Minutes)
- Uses formal typing skills to correctly format and type a paragraph
- Continues to polish and enhance formal keyboarding skills using proper technique
- Increases typing speed by 5 words per minute-timed typing tests
- Introduction to bibliography, proper format, and using special keys and fonts
- Learns correct computer terminology
- Learns to use Excel-fitting data to cells and graphing
- Cuts, copies, and pastes text
- Discusses and understands computer etiquette and computer ethics
Physical Education (90 Minimum Weekly Minutes)
Exercise and Calisthenics and Sports Skills
- Participates in the Presidential Physical Fitness Program
- Plays agility games and relay races
- Takes part in and learns the rules for: basketball, football, baseball, and volleyball
- Builds good sportsmanship and teamwork
- Improves ball skills
- Develops an understanding for physical health and nutrition
Fine Arts (90 Minimum Weekly Minutes)
Media
- Uses various media including pencil, crayon, chalk History
- Studies a variety of artists throughout history
- Emulates simplified versions of various artists’ techniques
Music Appreciation - Sings various songs
- Studies basic note and key signatures
Educational Field Trips
Book List: A variety of books are available in the school library. You may print out a list of acceptable books from the school website: http://www.stbarbara.com
